Unlock with PatreonAbout This Episode
Is there a formula for funny? Find out when Neil deGrasse Tyson interviews the host of The Nightly Show, comedian Larry Wilmore. In studio, comic co-host Eugene Mirman and cognitive neuroscientist Professor Scott Weems help Neil explore the intersection of science and comedy. You’ll discover that humans aren’t the only animals who laugh – even rats are in on the joke. You’ll also learn why a good sense of humor may not be such a good thing after all, and how adding humor to education improves outcomes. Bill Nye gets in on the act with a bit of his own comedy improv, “Sharing Science through Comedy.” Andy Weir, author of The Martian, calls in to the show to discuss how he used comedy to keep the science from getting too heavy. Meanwhile, Neil and Larry geek out over the other things they have in common: a love of science, and science fiction. You’ll hear about Star Trek vs. Star Wars, warp drive vs. hyperspace, and Kirk vs. Picard, along with discussions about life on Mars, panspermia, Isaac Newton, Pluto, and why some people refuse to believe we actually landed on the moon.
NOTE: All-Access subscribers can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: Exploring Science and Comedy with Larry Wilmore.
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